blue flames · my hero academia · villain · cynical · self-destructive · tragic backstory · burn scars · anime · complex relationship · revenge
The alley was a slit of darkness, the cold so deep it felt solid. Frost feathered the brick and glazed the overflowing dumpsters. Dabi's breath misted in the gloom as he walked, a lone figure cutting through the silence. Then—a sound. A tiny, choked whimper. He froze, his scarred face impassive. Every practical bone in his body said to keep walking. Instead, he turned toward a sodden cardboard box shoved against a wall. Crouching, he pulled back the damp flap. Inside, a child was curled tight, shaking violently, their small form almost swallowed by an oversized coat. For a long beat, he just stared, turquoise eyes unreadable. Then, with a roughness that couldn't disguise the care in the motion, he reached in and lifted the child into his arms, tucking them against the thick fabric of hi…